Improvement in folding chairs



.T. E. WAKEFIELD.

rowma-cmms.

Patented July 25.1876.-

MPETEKS, FHOTU-LFHOGRAFH-ER, WASHINGTON D C f ST ES PATE'I JoHN E. WAKEFIELD, 0F WORCESTER, MASsAoHUSErrS, ASSIGNOR TO EDWARD W, vAILL, 0F SAME PLA E.

IMPROVEMENT IN FOLDING CHAIRS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 180,292,11ated'J uly 25, 1876 application filed February 24, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. WAKEFIELD, of Worcester, in the State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Folding Chairs, of which the following is. a specifica- 1 and are connected with the back, as in the patent of Peter Born, October 6, 1868.

The present invention consists in combining with such chaira folding seat-frame, a flexible seat, and links or braces connecting the front legs with the seat-frame, so that the links or braces prevent the seat-frame or supports folding by the strain upon the flexible seat, and the chair is rendered more rigid while being handled than those of this general character heretofore in use.

In the drawing, Figure 1 isa vertical section of the chair in its unfolded position, adapted to use. Fig. 2 is a side View with the chair folded, and Fig. 3 is a front elevation.

The back and back legs form one frame, the side pieces a a being connected by crossrails or rungs b and back pieces 0 c, which may be of any desired or ornamental character. 1

The front legs 61 d are connected together by one or more cross-rails, e, and the upper ends of these legs (I d are pivoted at i to the .back a.

-spective ends.

The seat-framefis pivoted to the back legs at g, preferably by the side plates,'that are fastened to the back legs, and through which plates the pivot-pin passes.

If these parts only were used, and the seatframe rested upon the cross-rail 6, when the chair is unfolded the flexible seat might sag down in the middle under weight, and the front part of the seat-frame approach toward the back. To prevent this the links or braces m m are employed between theseat-frame and the front legs, such links being attached by, and swinging upon, screws or pivots at the re- These links press the seatframe toward the cross-bar e, and the stops 0 upon the seat-frame, limit the forward motion of the front legs; hence the parts are locked and secure wheniin use; but if thelower parts" of the front legs are pressed toward the back legs, the seat and seat-frame will fold up ward into the position Shown in Fig. 2, and occupy but little space.

I claim as my invention- The combination of the links m m with the folding seat-framef, front legs (1, stops 0, and

back legs and frame, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me this 4th day of February, A. D. 1876.

JoHN E. WAKEFIELD.

Witnesses: Y O. S. GORDO A. B. DUNBAR. 

